Expansion joint for pavements and the like



April 1940 J. o. RIDGE-LY 2,197,438

EXPANSION JOINT FOR PAVEMENTS AND THE LIKE Filed April l5, 1937 1 i v (I; //3 O m 0 6 O F A? l 1 t r: i 5:: V 2: i!

Jam 65 a iz'ygz,

Patented Apr. 16, 1940 1 D, AT S PATENT OFFlCE a p and contraction of the EXPANSI0N1 JOINT FOR PAVEMENTS AND THE LIKE i. q

James O. 'Ridgely,

C.'Dudley shreve, Washington, D. 0. Application. April 13,1937, Serial No. 136,649

. 12 Claims. H Generically this invention relatesto expansion joints, but it more, particularly is directed to the type adapted for concrete roads and the like. 7 1h roads constructed from concrete, expansion materialunder temperature. changes tends to create. cracks and fissures not only marring the roadway surface but causing rapid deterioration, andto prevent such consequence, such roads are usually constructed in a plurality of sections spaced from eachvother to permit longitudinal expansion of the sections, and inorder to maintain the contiguous edges of the sections intact and prevent extraneous matter filling the intervening spaces and preventingsuch expansion it has been found necessary to place. an expansion joint in the respective spaces; therefore, one-pf the principal objects of this invention is the provision-of a joint com-- prising relativelymovable parts and which While filling the space between the adjacent concrete sections, permits relative movement of the sections, by reason of temperature variations; without damage to the joint or to the sections.

One of the principal objects of this invention is the provision of an expansion joint of this character connecting the ends of adjacent concrete sections, comprising relatively movable parts initially interlocked to form a unitary structure designed to prevent relative movement andmisalignment of such parts during handlingand installation of the joint.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of an expansion joint comprising relatively movable parts forming" an upstanding portion filled with an elastic substance and corresponding to the space between the adjacent concrete sections, said parts being initially connected so that the jointmay be installed as a unitary structure, and disalignment of parts during construction of the roadway prevented.

A still further object. of this invention is the provision of an expansion joint comprising movable parts and means intermediate the parts substantially corresponding to the space between the concrete section adapted to prevent infiltration of waterto said sections-and carrying an elastic material, and cap means uniting said movable sections into a unitary structure and covering said resilient material during construction of the roadway, said cap being removable to permit the parts torelatively move with therespective cone crete sections on opposite sides of said elastic material upon completion of the roadway.

A further important object of this inventionis the provision of a tight water resistant expansion joint reducing to. a minimum infiltration ofsurface water and adapted to carry off the water without displacement of the sub-grade immediately under or'adjacent to the joint, comprising rigid metal holders adapted to effect ac- 5t curate spacing and alignment of the dowel bars and to insure their being held in a plane parallel to the surface grade or sub-grade profile during the laying of the concrete and which is accomplished without retarding or counter-acting the subsequent movement of the concrete sections by reason of temperature changes.

With these and other objects in View, which will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction,.combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fullydes'cribed and claimed, and illustrated in the. accompanying drawing, in which like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several figures, of which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view showing the joint 2 positioned prior to laying 'ofthe concrete;

Fig. 2 is a tranverse section taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1 showing the device partially embedded in the concrete; and

.Fig. 3 Ba similar view to Fig.2 showing theroadway completed and the cap removed and showing the dowel pin cap in section.

The expansion joint structures with which-"I am familiar, heretofore in use in connection with concrete road construction, have proven deficient in many respects, such'as extending from the surface partially through the concrete, others extending completely through tothe road bed or base, and while in some instances, having parts connected through the joint separating the concreteroad sections, such parts have a'tendency to become disaligned during'laying of the concrete, thereby preventing their proper functioning and causing disintegration of the concrete adjacent to said joint by expansion and contraction caused by temperature changes and permitting further deteriorationbythe infiltration of surface "water, and it was to overcome such deficiencies and to provide an expansion joint structure carrying an elastic material adapted to fill the space between the concrete sections and initiallyconnected as a unitary structure, such Irigidconnection of the metal plates 'or holders insuring the dowel bars being held in a plane parallel to the surface grade-and in true 50 alignment with their movable connections during laying of the concrete, and upon substantial completion of which, the initial rigid. connection is removed leaving the movable sections of the joint protects the elastic'material space, and time and labor and subsequent filling free to move with the relative expansive movement of the concrete in which they are embedded, and, whereby, crumbling, cracking, and consequent deterioration of such concrete portions is prevented, that I designed the expansion joint structure forming the subject matter of this invention.

In the illustrated embodiment characterizing this invention there, is shown an expansion joint A and concrete road sections B and C.

The joint A comprises a pair of metallic base plates l and 2. Said plates areformedat one end with vertical members 3 and 4,-respectively,

and which are of a height substantially corresponding to the thickness of the roadway-or concrete sections B and C. A metallic-'trough-like element 5 rectangular in configuration and open at its top and ends, in the present instance, is constructed from bronze material but which may be constructed from any suitable I material, is adapted to be positioned intermediate the members 3 and 4 and corresponding in heightto'said members. One side'of said member 5 has its free edge folded'upon itself to form an apron-like hook element 6 adapted to engage over the upper edge of member 3, so'that the trough element will b'connected to and carried bysaidmember. Said trough corresponds in length to thatof said joint structure, as will be understood.

' Suitably connected to base plate I by welding, soldering or otherwise are a plurality of spaced dowel rods or bars 1.- Each of said dowel bars extends vertically'to apoint 8 substantially midway of the heightof sections 3 and 4 and then horizontally through apertures 9 in members 3 and Land In intrough 5, and'through aperture H formedi the upper end of vertical standard l2 struck up from base plate 2 or attached to said base plate by weldingfsolde'ring, or in any suitable manner, and'm'ounted on the free end of each of said rods or bars 'I is a tubular cap' l3.

Dowel rods 1 connected to base plate I underlying and embedded' inconcrete section 13 project only partially within said caps l3 embedded in concrete section C so that said rods ma'y'freely move therein when relative movement of the sections I and 2 is eiiected, as'wil1 hereinafter more fully appear;

When assembling the jam A the trough 5,

which-substantially corresponds in size to that of space D, is adapted to be filledwith an elastic substance E such as pitch and the like, and said members 3 and 4 are'adapted tocontact opposite sides of said trough and are rigidly connected thereto by a cap member f4 inserted over the upper ends of said members 3 and 4 and trough 5. Said cap is locked in place by cotter pins I5 or other suitable fastening elements extending .therethrough, whereupon the joint is united into a unitary structure which facilitates handling and positioning on the roadbed'prior to laying of the concrete, as will be apparent. It will also be noted that cap I 4 not only maintains the parts against displacement during handling and operative positioning of the joint on the roadbed, but E from extraneous matter-during construction of the pavement. It will also be apparent that the filler elasticmaterial E for the space D is carried by the joint A which obviates the use of forms to define such of space D with material E, and which facilitates laying of the concrete at such points.

'Inforder to provide a supporting base for the ;;;base plates adjacent said space or opening D of-concrete sections and to provide for carrying on! water without displacement of the sub-grade immediately under or adjacent to said joint during contraction of said concrete sections and relative movement of the base plate structures, a trough-like base member I6 is positioned at the bottom of space D with its longitudinal edges underlying and supporting the respective base plates-1 and. 2, and, irrespective of the movements of said base plates by reason of expansion and contraction B and C, it is obvious that the base plates extending under and facing the ends of the concrete sections B and C, with dowel rods or bars I embedded in said sections and extending-throughstandards l2 and into tubular caps l I-3, and connected parts, are not susceptible of displacement or mis-alignment during the laying' of'the pavement sections and the expanding and subsequent contracting of said sections, and by reason of which, said adjacent ends of the sections will remain intact and crumblin and cracking by reason of such expansion .Will be prevented. I

It will be apparentthat owing, to the rigid integral supporting guide structure intermediate and adjacent the free ends of dowel rods I, to the rigid connection of the movable sections, to

the extensive supporting area of the base plates on the roadbed, to said plates being formed with openings I! through which wooden-"pins l8 are driven to anchor'the' plates inoperative aligned position to the roadbed, that displacement or misalignment of parts during construction of the pavement is prevented, and whichinsures proper relative movement of the parts by reason of contraction and expansion of theadjacent concrete sections, whereby damage: to the con crete in the vicinity of the joint is prevented; as explained in the preceding paragraph The woodenpins are'used so that the first movement of the plates in expanding or contracting direction will" shear them 011' leaving" said plates free to movewith the concrete sections to" which they are-'supportingly attached, as will'be clear tions adjacent the spaces between such sections,

and in which are positioned theexpansionajoints, to crumble, crack and rapidly-deteriorate, it is evident that such joints, owing to their limited surface connection with such-sections and misalignment of parts, preventing the accurate functioning of such partsin true alignment with the longitudinal direction of the expansion and contraction of the concrete sections, have proven unsatisfactory inuse, and it was to overcome such disadvantages that I' designed the "instant expansion joint adapted to seat onthe roadbed, having an extensive supporting base plate area not only presenting a facing for the ends of the adjacent sections, obviating the use during the laying of the concrete of forms for defining the space between the section's', adapted to be filled with an elastic substance, but extending a substantial distance under the respective sections and constituting movable end reinforcing carriaaesrmnortin elements. and means supported by and connecting said movable supporting elei It will be observed from "theabove description that I have designed an expansion joint adapted to occupy the space betweenthe adjacent ends of the concrete paving sections and to elastically interconnect said sections, comprising relatively movable parts temporarily connected into a unitary structure-and including the elastic substance with which said space is usually filled subsequent to the laying of the concrete sections, so that said joint may be positioned on the roadbed to which it is temporarily'anchored to maintain the joint in true position during the construction of the contiguous paving sections, and at the time such construction is substantially completed, said temporary connection and elastic substance protective means is removed, whereupon said concrete supporting and reinforcing elements are free 'to relatively move withitheir concrete sections, and owing to the elastic substance carrying trough element and the underlying base drain member, the infiltration of-water and weakening of the underlying sub-grade in the vicinityof said joint by the entrance of surface water is prevented.

From the above it is apparent that I have designedan expansible joint for connecting adjacent pavingsections, including an elastic spacing material, temporarily connected as a uflitary structure to facilitate handling and positioning on a prepared roadbed, the connecting means be-- ing removable upon substantial completion of construction of the paving sections, said device being simple in construction, comparatively light in weight, manufacturable at a reasonable cost, and efiicient for the purposes intended.

Although in practice I have found that the form of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing and referred to in the above description as the preferred embodiment, is the most efiicient and practical, yet realizing the conditions concurrent with the adoption of my invention will necessarily vary, I desire to emphasize that various minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts, may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from or sacrificing any of the principles of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire protected by Letters Patent is as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. An expansible joint for concrete, roads, or the like, comprising complemental joint sections, each section including a horizontal and a vertical portion, the vertically disposed portions of the respective sections being arranged in parallel and laterally spaced relation, a horizontally disposed dowel rod extending through said vertical portions and relatively moveablewith respect to one of said vertical portions, one end of the dowel rod being extended downwardly and anchored at its free end to the horizontal portion of one section.

2. An expansible joint for concrete roads or the like, comprising complemental joint sections, each section including a horizontal and vertical portion, the vertically disposed portions of the respective sections being arranged in parallel and laterally spaced relation, a horizontally disposed dowel rod relatively moveable with respect to one of said vertical portions, one end of the dowel pin extending downwardly and rigidly secured to the horizontal portion of one section, a guide supported by the horizontal portion of the other section a'n'd slidably receiving the free end ofthe dowel pin. 3. An ,expansible joint for'ooncrete'roads, or the like comprising complemental'join't' sections, each section including a horizontal and vertical portion, thevertically disposed portions of the respective sections being mounted in parallel lateraily spaced relation, a series of horizontally disposed dowel rodsrelatively moveable with respect to one ofthe vertical portions, one end of the dowel rods 'beingjbent downwardly and anchored to the horizontal portion of one section, a series of guides supported by the other horizontal portion and 'slideably receiving the' free ends of'the dowel rods. i

4. An'expansible joint for concrete roads, or

, the like comprising complemental metal sections,

each section including a horizontal and vertical portion, the vertically'disposed portions of-the respective sections being arranged in parallel and laterally spaced relation, a metal casing connected to one of the verticalpcrtions'andmoveable as a unit with said portion; a horizontally disposed dowel rod extending through said vertical portions and casing and relatively moveable with respectto one of thevertical portions, one end of the dowel; rod being bent downwardly and having its free end rigidly secured to the horizontal portion of one section.

5. An expansible joint for spaced road paving sections comprising complemental joint sections,

each section including a horizontal and vertical portion, the vertically disposed portions of the respective sections being arranged in parallel and laterally spaced relation, a dowel rod bent downwardly and anchored at one end to the horizontal portion of. one of the sections and moveable relative to the complemental section, the horizontal portion of said complemental section having a vertical member struck up therefrom adapted to slidably support said rod adjacent to its free end whereby said dowel rod is maintained in the plane of the directional expansible movement of the paving sections.

6. An expansible joint for concrete roads, or the like comprising complemental joint sections, each section including a horizontal and vertical portion, the vertically disposed portions of the respective sections being arranged in parallel and laterally spaced relation, a metal casing being connected to one of the vertical portions and moveable as a unit with said portion, a horizontally disposed dowel rod extending through said vertical portions and casing and relatively moveable with respect to one of the vertical portions, one end of the dowel rod being bent downwardly and rigidly secured to the horizontal portion of one section.

'7. An expansible joint for spaced road paving slabs comprising complemental joint sections, the respective joint sections including horizontally disposed base portions and parallelly arranged laterally spaced vertical portions, a casing intermediate said portions, means bonding the casing to one of said sections so as to move as a unit therewith, each of said vertical portions formed with an opening, a guide element carried by one of said sections in alignment with said opening, a dowel rod rigidly anchored to the base portion of one of said sections and extending through saidopenings and guide and relatively moveable with respect to one of said sections and said guide, whereby said dowel rod is maintained in alignment with said opening, guide and in the plane. of the directional expansible movement of the paving slabs. a expansible joint for concrete roads, or the like comprising comp-lemental joint sections, each section including ;a horizontal and a .vertical portion, the vertically disposed portions of the respective sections being arranged in. laterally spaced relation, a dowel rod having a horizontal and a depending portion and relatively moveable with respectv to one of said sections, the depending end of the dowel rod being anchored to the horizontal portion of. one section. v

. 9. An expansible joint forconcrete roads com prising complemental joint sections,-said sections including horizontal base portions and parallelly arranged laterally spaced vertical portions, a series of dowel rods horizontally disposed and formed at one end with depending 'legs anchored to the base portion of one section, and a series of guides carried by the base portion of the remaining section, said guides slideably receiving the free ends of the dowel rods.

10. An expansible joint for concrete roads, or the like comprising complemental joint sections, each section including a horizontal and a vertical portion, the vertically disposed portions of the respective sections beingarranged in laterally spaced relation, a horizontally disposed dowel rod formed at one end with a depending leg horizontally disposed dowel rod having one rod bent downwardly and connected to the base portion of one section and a socket element slideably receiving the free end of the dowel rod.

12. An expansible joint for the paving sections of a concrete road and the like comprising laterally spaced members intermediate said sections, said members having oppositely extending horizontal portions, a metal casing containing an elastic substance conforming in dimensions to the space between said spaced members, said 'casing being connected to and carried by one of said members, dowel rods adapted to extend through said spaced members and casing, said rods having vertical portions rigidly connected at their free ends to one of. said horizontal portions, and a removable capping element connecting the upper edges of said members.

JAMES O. RIDGELY.. 

